Post by ajk on May 10, 2015 2:10:38 GMT -5
As the armies stare each other down, Shin Rip explains to his subordinates why he chose a big all-out open-field battle. And it actually does make some sense; he harbors no illusions about an easy victory here but thinks it's time to put a stop to the Japanese army's easy path through the country and make them face a real fight, if only for the morale of the nation and its soldiers. Moreover, "Even if we lose, at least half of the enemy forces will be damaged." Which will make them more vulnerable as they advance. And then just like that, charge!
Back in the capital, Seonjo is highly agitated, waiting for news of the outcome. And the councilors are getting nervous because the reinforcement troops they need from the north are slow in arriving. Oh and also because now there are only around 5,000 soldiers left to defend the capital. If Shin loses, well...yikes.
Shin loses. Somehow he and Kim Yeomul have been driven backwards and upwards while sword-fighting, up a hill to the edge of a high precipice overlooking a river. And as a Japanese musket unit moves forward to finish them off, they turn and jump to their deaths.
Narration tells us that this was April 28, 1592, and that the Joseon army actually won four initial encounters before ultimately being defeated. And as Shin predicted, Konishi's forces took heavy losses: roughly half his army was killed or wounded, which did significantly slow its progress. But the whole thing took less than a day.
Lee Deokhyeong is headed south to negotiate with Konishi. He encounters two soldiers fleeing north, who give him the bad news. He sends his escorts back home to deliver it, and heads on alone.
Headed north, Kato gets word of Konishi's victory and fumes with jealousy...until he hears of 8,000 Japanese casualties and then laughs with delight.
The news reaches the capital. After the initial shock fades, the talk turns to what to do next. Should the king abandon the capital and take royal refuge? Or try to gather soldiers and citizens and fight? It's a very, very difficult question and either option is loaded with risks. Ryu urges Seonjo to at least show some intention to defend the capital for the sake of morale. And Seonjo wants to, he really does, but he's also being pulled back by doubt about whether or not it's practical...and maybe there's some self-preservation creeping in as well. "I'd rather die than take royal refuge," he says...but then as Ryu urges him not to do it, suddenly he's furious and screaming at Ryu! "I always listened to you! I sent envoys to Wae [Japan], but they attacked. I sent envoys to Ming, but that resulted in a misunderstanding. I didn't abolish the naval force, but they couldn't even stop one ship. Am I supposed to trust you again?" Not fair, he sure always did NOT listen to Ryu...but whatever, he's made a decision. "I'm not abandoning the capital. I'm only leaving for while to reorganize the army." Seems like playing word-games there, but he does remind the councilors of the single most critical aspect of all this: "It's over if the king is captured during a war." Can't argue with that.
The screaming doesn't deter Ryu one bit. Afterwards he gets into heated argument with Lee Sanhae as other officials look on. He fears irreversible damage to the nation if Seonjo simply bails on the capital. And now, both outside the city gates and inside the palace, we see ordinary citizens and officials kneeling and begging the king not to leave them. And we learn that even the other members of the royal family are against taking refuge. It torments Seonjo, but it probably won't change his mind at this point.
Evening: We see citizens in the capital talking about leaving or staying. The leaving is winning.
As his army continues northward, Kato gets some shocking news: his subordinate general Sayaka took all of his own forces and fled! Likely to surrender to the enemy. Of course Kato goes ballistic, but they can't go after Sayaka because then Konishi will get to the capital first. "Make sure Konishi doesn't find out," Kato orders.
Japan: Hideyoshi decides he'll give the Joseon king some land and turn him into another one of his feudal lords. And he likes Maeda's advice that a resort home be built for him in Joseon's capital. Squeals with delight at the idea.
"I can't stand it! Lee Sanhae is the only person who's willing to obey me." Seonjo's hitting the sauce pretty hard. And now Consort Kim and her brother give him ugly news: not only are citizens fleeing, but so have 1,000 of the 5,000 capital troops. Consort Kim advises him to order defense of the capital anyway! But not really expect it to happen; she thinks that once everyone prepares to defend and then realizes how bad the situation is, they'll understand his leaving and won't blame him for it.
So Seonjo calls a council meeting and announces just that. Says he's not leaving and wants plans made to defend the capital. Tells Ryu that, as the supreme commander, he'll be in charge of defending the capital. It lifts Ryu's spirits immensely...
...but when he goes to a local army base and starts learning of how soldiers are fleeing in huge numbers...and when he goes into a local street and sees citizens fleeing in huge numbers...it should lessen his confidence, shouldn't it?
Apparently not. He returns to the palace draws up a plan that he thinks has "a pretty good chance" of succeeding; at least delaying until reinforcements arrive...but is he being overly optimistic?
Seonjo is reduced to tears. He's even decided to die here in the capital if it can't be defended. But then suddenly he changes his mind, and puts into action a plan of Consort Kim's to rally public sentiment in cities north of the capital to welcome the king...
...and then he goes directly to Ryu's office and tells him that defending the capital is futile. "Face reality now," he tells Ryu, and says he'll take refuge after all.
Back in the capital, Seonjo is highly agitated, waiting for news of the outcome. And the councilors are getting nervous because the reinforcement troops they need from the north are slow in arriving. Oh and also because now there are only around 5,000 soldiers left to defend the capital. If Shin loses, well...yikes.
Shin loses. Somehow he and Kim Yeomul have been driven backwards and upwards while sword-fighting, up a hill to the edge of a high precipice overlooking a river. And as a Japanese musket unit moves forward to finish them off, they turn and jump to their deaths.
Narration tells us that this was April 28, 1592, and that the Joseon army actually won four initial encounters before ultimately being defeated. And as Shin predicted, Konishi's forces took heavy losses: roughly half his army was killed or wounded, which did significantly slow its progress. But the whole thing took less than a day.
Lee Deokhyeong is headed south to negotiate with Konishi. He encounters two soldiers fleeing north, who give him the bad news. He sends his escorts back home to deliver it, and heads on alone.
Headed north, Kato gets word of Konishi's victory and fumes with jealousy...until he hears of 8,000 Japanese casualties and then laughs with delight.
The news reaches the capital. After the initial shock fades, the talk turns to what to do next. Should the king abandon the capital and take royal refuge? Or try to gather soldiers and citizens and fight? It's a very, very difficult question and either option is loaded with risks. Ryu urges Seonjo to at least show some intention to defend the capital for the sake of morale. And Seonjo wants to, he really does, but he's also being pulled back by doubt about whether or not it's practical...and maybe there's some self-preservation creeping in as well. "I'd rather die than take royal refuge," he says...but then as Ryu urges him not to do it, suddenly he's furious and screaming at Ryu! "I always listened to you! I sent envoys to Wae [Japan], but they attacked. I sent envoys to Ming, but that resulted in a misunderstanding. I didn't abolish the naval force, but they couldn't even stop one ship. Am I supposed to trust you again?" Not fair, he sure always did NOT listen to Ryu...but whatever, he's made a decision. "I'm not abandoning the capital. I'm only leaving for while to reorganize the army." Seems like playing word-games there, but he does remind the councilors of the single most critical aspect of all this: "It's over if the king is captured during a war." Can't argue with that.
The screaming doesn't deter Ryu one bit. Afterwards he gets into heated argument with Lee Sanhae as other officials look on. He fears irreversible damage to the nation if Seonjo simply bails on the capital. And now, both outside the city gates and inside the palace, we see ordinary citizens and officials kneeling and begging the king not to leave them. And we learn that even the other members of the royal family are against taking refuge. It torments Seonjo, but it probably won't change his mind at this point.
Evening: We see citizens in the capital talking about leaving or staying. The leaving is winning.
As his army continues northward, Kato gets some shocking news: his subordinate general Sayaka took all of his own forces and fled! Likely to surrender to the enemy. Of course Kato goes ballistic, but they can't go after Sayaka because then Konishi will get to the capital first. "Make sure Konishi doesn't find out," Kato orders.
Japan: Hideyoshi decides he'll give the Joseon king some land and turn him into another one of his feudal lords. And he likes Maeda's advice that a resort home be built for him in Joseon's capital. Squeals with delight at the idea.
"I can't stand it! Lee Sanhae is the only person who's willing to obey me." Seonjo's hitting the sauce pretty hard. And now Consort Kim and her brother give him ugly news: not only are citizens fleeing, but so have 1,000 of the 5,000 capital troops. Consort Kim advises him to order defense of the capital anyway! But not really expect it to happen; she thinks that once everyone prepares to defend and then realizes how bad the situation is, they'll understand his leaving and won't blame him for it.
So Seonjo calls a council meeting and announces just that. Says he's not leaving and wants plans made to defend the capital. Tells Ryu that, as the supreme commander, he'll be in charge of defending the capital. It lifts Ryu's spirits immensely...
...but when he goes to a local army base and starts learning of how soldiers are fleeing in huge numbers...and when he goes into a local street and sees citizens fleeing in huge numbers...it should lessen his confidence, shouldn't it?
Apparently not. He returns to the palace draws up a plan that he thinks has "a pretty good chance" of succeeding; at least delaying until reinforcements arrive...but is he being overly optimistic?
Seonjo is reduced to tears. He's even decided to die here in the capital if it can't be defended. But then suddenly he changes his mind, and puts into action a plan of Consort Kim's to rally public sentiment in cities north of the capital to welcome the king...
...and then he goes directly to Ryu's office and tells him that defending the capital is futile. "Face reality now," he tells Ryu, and says he'll take refuge after all.
